North Dakota Council on Information Technology - Information

2009-11 IT procurement opportunities:
The 2009 legislative session has wrapped up and state agencies are busy gearing up for the 2009-11 biennium, which begins July 1. According to the ND Information Technology Department (ITD), the state’s sound financial condition allowed the legislature to fund many IT projects. The department says that while it may take a little work and due diligence, vendors looking to do business with the state should find many opportunities in the next biennium.

While it would be ideal to be able to list the approved agency IT projects that came out of the session, ITD says it is not that simple. Each agency submitted its 2009-11 IT plan in July 2008, which means it projected 12-36 months out. With the ever-changing advancements in technology, this is a very difficult feat. This is why the process provides flexibility allowing agencies to adjust their plans as the biennium unfolds to ensure they are meeting the current needs of the citizens of North Dakota.

So, what are the best methods of identifying current and future procurement opportunities?

1. Review the statewide IT plan. The plan breaks down IT projects by agency. Although some unexpected changes may occur, these plans are an accurate outline of the technology projects occurring over the 2009-11 biennium.

2. Make sure you are registered on the ND State Procurement Bidders List. Special attention needs to be given to the commodity codes your business is registered under. These are used when an agency is looking for a vendor pool. There currently are 246 major codes, each with numerous sub-codes, so careful review is encouraged to make sure you are registered under the appropriate categories. Once registered in the Bidders List, you will receive notice of procurement opportunities within the commodity codes you have selected.

3. Once identified, aggressively pursue these contracts as you would any other.

If you have questions regarding the statewide IT plan, contact Jeff Swank, IT business analyst with the ND Information Technology Department, at 701-328-1994. Questions surrounding the ND State Procurement Bidders List can be addressed by the ND State Procurement Office at 701-328-2773.
IT Career Awareness Program begins implementation:
Wade Kadrmas of Bismarck began his position as the ND IT Career Awareness Program Coordinator June 1. He is responsible for implementing ITCND’s statewide IT Career Awareness Program with the objective of informing 7-12 grade students, their parents and educators of the state’s IT career opportunities in an effort to secure a workforce into the future.

Kadrmas was hired by the ND Department of Career and Technical Education, ITCND’s partner in implementing the program. He has a bachelor’s degree in business education with an emphasis in computer science. Prior to this position, he was the technology coordinator and IT instructor at Bismarck’s St. Mary’s High School.

Kadrmas can be contacted at 701-328-3178 or by e-mail. Learn more about the IT Career Awareness Program here.
ITCND reaches out to colleges and universities:
As part of its IT Career Awareness Program, ITCND has recently shared the results of its 2008 IT Workforce Needs Assessment with ND colleges and universities. This is an effort to partner with the state’s postsecondary educational institutions to ensure IT workforce needs are met into the future.

The results of the assessment have been presented to the presidents of North Dakota’s two-year colleges, the North Dakota State College of Science and MinotStateUniversity, IT department advisory boards and at a Rasmussen IT event in Fargo. A letter, the 2009 State of the IT Industry Guide and a North Dakota IT industry fact sheet have been sent to all North Dakota colleges and universities encouraging their continuation of IT-related degree programs.

If you serve on an advisory board for a ND college or university, you are encouraged to share the results of the assessment with them. Information is available at the ITCND website. If you would like additional information, contact Deana Wiese, ITCND executive director, at 701-355-4458.
IT making the news:
Prairie Business explains how regional employment, including IT, shows strength despite the nation’s recession. View the complete article here.
Interim legislative studies selected:
The ND Legislative Council recently prioritized the studies to be conducted during the 2009-10 interim. IT-related studies selected include:
· SB 2018 – Study technology-based entrepreneurship and economic development best practices
· SB 2018 – Study the state’s system for addressing workforce needs through a workforce system initiative
· SB 2038 – Study the means by which the North Dakota University System can further contribute to developing and attracting the human capital to meet North Dakota’s economic and workforce needs
· SB 2390 – Study the establishment and development of certified technology parks
· SCR 4002 – Study the state’s workforce system, the feasibility and desirability of enacting legislation to address the issues identified in the 2007-08 interim Workforce Committee’s consultant’s report, and the implementation of workforce initiatives enacted by the 61st Legislative Assembly

A complete listing of interim legislative studies can be found at the ND Legislative Council website.
IT resource materials available:
The following materials have been developed by ITCND and are available to the membership for reference. These materials feature statistics on the IT industry in North Dakota and may be used as tools for the media, resources for education and classroom visits, and as general handouts.
· 2009 State of the IT Industry Guide – Features information on infrastructure, workforce, trends and economic impact on the state.
· North Dakota’s IT Industry at a Glance – Offers a snapshot view of the IT industry.
· IT-related Degree Programs in North Dakota – Highlights the computer and IT programs offered at North Dakota University System colleges and universities.
· IT Competency Model – Outlines the skills necessary for IT careers.
· IT Tops Hot Jobs in North Dakota – Summarizes Job Service North Dakota’s 2008 “Hot Jobs” and focuses on the IT jobs that topped the list.

View all of the above documents on the ITCND website.
Member Bits & Bytes:
BEK Communications – Steele, ND

BEK Communications is a leader in residential communications services and business solutions and is a member-owned cooperative committed to delivering cutting-edge, advanced services and technologies to its customers. It has been providing innovative technologies for telephone, Internet and TV and highly responsive local support to its membership in Burleigh, Emmons, Kidder, Logan, McLean and McIntosh counties since 1952. BEK also maintains two subsidiaries – BEK Business Solutions and BEK Sports Network. BEK Business Solutions offers a full line of products and services for office phones, computer networks, Internet connections, security, infrastructure implementation, cabling and more. BEK Sports Network is a fully functional broadcast company that produces live sporting events, sports shows and general interest shows.

Future opportunities for BEK Communications and the IT industry in the state: BEK Communications sees future opportunities in three primary areas.
1. Work-from-home opportunities: Approximately 20 percent of BEK’s broadband customers derive household income using their high speed Internet connection. In a more rural-based community, there aren’t as many career opportunities. BEK continues to search for and help deliver work-from-home opportunities for its members.
2. BEK Sports growth: BEK Sports continues to expand. It began by delivering live sporting events to the homes of BEKTV subscribers in south-central North Dakota and expanded by partnering with other North Dakota telephone cooperatives/companies to deliver several state-wide games. This partnership continued to grow quickly, and today, BEK Sports consists of three networks in one, with the potential for future growth.
3. Increase its Internet penetration: BEK’s Internet speeds in fiber-based areas are at 12 Mbps, which is among the best in the state. Currently, 100 percent of BEK’s customers are broadband capable. However, just over 50 percent of BEK’s customers are BEK Internet subscribers.

Current challenges facing BEK Communications and the IT industry in the state: Fiber to the home is the technology that will bring BEK’s services to customers well into the future. However, as a small cooperative, BEK Communications faces the challenge of delivering fiber to the homes to the remaining 40 percent of its subscriber base (currently, approximately 60 percent of BEK’s members have fiber-to-the-home). The cost of fiber-construction becomes a huge burden on a small, member-based company. Along with the initial cost of placing new facilities, it also can be expensive maintaining and servicing these subscribers on a daily basis. BEK’s total territory covers more than 6,000 square miles.


Learn more about BEK Communications here or contact Derrick Bulawa at 701-475-2361 for more information.

If you are interested in having your business featured in an upcoming "Member Bits & Bytes," e-mail ITCND. Requests will be honored on a first-come, first-served basis.







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